Students speaking out about Obama school lunch initiativeWSAUMany political observers say the Obama policies are on the ballot for mid-term elections. One of those policies is generating a large number of unhappy future voters: It's the program for school lunches pushed by first lady Michelle Obama called the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which DC Everest senior Meghan Hellrood says is neither healthy or hunger-free.

What's driving the factory-to-table food movement?The AwlIn late 2013, McDonald's briefly lost control of its reputation when a photo of a frozen McRib went viral and became a news story in itself. Since then, the chain has undertaken an initiative designed to foster consumer engagement through transparency.

Math is forbidding for Democrats in struggle for SenateThe Washington PostIn all, there are 13 states where Senate seats might change from one party to the other. Republicans need to win nine of them to attain a 51-seat majority in the Senate for the first time since 2007. On Monday, Republicans seemed to be leading, by a lot or by a little, in eight of those races.

Senate battle could go overtimePoliticoWith some races too close to call ahead of Election Day and others poised to go to a second round of voting, it could be days, weeks or even months before the Senate is awarded to one party or the other.

Soda makers headed for tax showdown in CaliforniaReutersNo American city has passed a ballot measure raising taxes on sugary drinks, and ahead of votes Tuesday in Berkeley and San Francisco, the U.S. soda industry has been working hard to keep it that way.

FDA to increase food safety staff in China for more collaborationCriEnglishThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with the Chinese government and industry to improve the food safety system and verification of food safety standards. The efforts include the FDA's recent move to increase staff in China for more collaboration and support.

Improving food safety in Asia PacificFood Safety MagazineBuilding the capacity to detect, control and prevent foodborne pathogens, like Salmonella, has been at the core of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's initiatives to improve food safety in the region.

Details on sustainable beef criteria to come by Q1 2015: GRSBMeatingplaceAfter announcing on Monday its new global principles and criteria for sustainable beef production, the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef plans to roll out detailed advice on how producers can meet each criteria point by the first quarter of 2015, executive director Ruaraidh Petre said.

DSM profit down on lower volumes, currency effectsReutersDutch food and chemicals group DSM NV earned lower profits in the third quarter, in line with expectations, as currency effects and lower volumes hit its key nutrition business, the company said Tuesday.

No incidence of food contamination from RPCsFood Safety NewsProviding a safe food supply chain is a top concern for the Reusable Packaging Association. In fact, there has never been a documented food safety issue associated with the use of reusable plastic containers in Canada or the U.S.